Key-switch.



A. H. WEISS.

KEY SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED EAR-.23, 1905.

Patenfi%t; 17 1 911.

WWW Imw/Mlow $9M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. WEISS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGGSWITCI-IIBOARI) & SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

KEY-SWITCH.

Application filed. March 23, 1805.

To all whomfit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. lVEiss, a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Switches, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to operators key switches of the type wherein aplurality of keys are mounted in a unitary structure and adapted to makeand break the circuit through a plurality of sets of contact springs.

The key switch embodying my invention may be used for talking betweendiiferent sections of the switchboard, between any section of theswitchboard and the chief operator, andas an order wire key, or in anyplace where 1t is desired to temporarily connect and control a plurahtyof c1rcu1ts.

In key switches of the general type abovedescribed it has been customaryheretofore to use the contact springs for restoring the keys to normalposition after pressure has been removed therefrom. This method ofrestoring the keys and permitting the cir-L cuit to be opened throughthe springs has been found objectionable, and my invention. has for oneof its objects the provision of improved means for restoring theindividual keys to normal position.

Another object of my invention is the assembling of the contact springson the frame of the switch in such a manner as to leave said springs andtheir contact points exposed and readily accessible for the purpose ofinspection and repair.

A further object of my lnventlon 1s to assemble the springs and keys ina manner that is simple and economical of manufacture and durable andhighly eflicient in use.

The other novel features of my invention will more fully appear from thefollowlng description of the accompanying drawin m.

in which I have illustrated one methodof embodying the principles of myinvention in a. practical device, and in which like ref-j Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1911.

Serial No. 251,612.

ing the contact springs .and their respective contact points exposed toview; Fig. 3 is an end v1ew of the swltch; Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof one method of forming the frame upon which the parts of the switchare mounted; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the keys removedfrom the frame; Fig. 6 is a. perspective View of another form of thesupporting plate.

Referring to the different figures by reference numerals, a plate 1 ofany suitable length is adapted to accommodate any desired number of keysorFbuttons 2, 2. Said plate is preferably made of sheet metal and may bestamped or drawn into suitable shape for conveniently supporting thecont-act springs 11 and the cooperating keys 2. I prefer to use a plateformed as shown in Fig. 4, said plate having a depression orlongitudinal groove 3 in the upper edge thereof, within which theindividual buttons or keys 2 are adapted tobe disposed, said keysextending above the upper edge 4 of said plate, said edge preferablycarrying a strip of insulating material 5 and being adapted to limit thedownward movement of the keys. The shanks of the keys 2 extendtransversely through the longitudinal de pression 3 .and through theparallel walls 4 and 6 thereof, said keys carrying on their lowerextremities the insulating tips 7, adapted to engage the contact springs11 for controlling the circuit therethrough. The plate 1 may have thegroove 3 formed therein in any suitable manner and I donot wish to limitmy invention to the specific form of plate above described as any methodof forming the support for the keys 2, 2, therein may be adopted.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification of the supporting plate 1 in whichthe top surface 4 is formed by turning the upper edge of the plateforward and the bottom support 6 for the keys is formed by drawing aportion of the metal plate parallel therewith.

Coiled springs 10 are preferably disposed upon the shanks of the keys 2,2, and lugs or plate 9 carried by the keys, are adapted to compress saidsprings when the keys are operated to make a connection. The springs 10,10 are adapted to return the keys to normal position after a connectionhas been made and the pressure upon the keys released, said springsbeing preferably disposed bet-ween the lugs 9 and the bottom plate 6 ofthe groove 3. The use of the springs 10 for returning the keys to normalposition insures a positive return of the keys as soon as the pressurethereon is released, and entirely obviates the tendency of the keys tostick bet-ween the contact springs as is the case when the keys areadapted to be returned to normal position by the deflected ends of thecontact springs acting against the beveled or conical end or theinsulating tip carried by the shanks of the keys, and also permits alighter and more inexpensive switch spring to be used. Other auxiliarymeans and other forms of auxiliary springs 10 may be used in lieu of thecoiled springs shown and other methods of mounting the auxiliary springsfor returning the keys to normal position may be adopted withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

The contact springs 11 may be of any desired type, adapted to coperatewith the individual keys, said springs preferably being transverselydisposed upon the plate 1, and secured thereon at the lower edge of saidplate in any suitable manner, as by the metal strip 12 secured to theplate in the present instance by screws 13, 13, insulating material 14being disposed between the contact springs 11, the plate 1 and retainingstrip 12, and being adapted to insulate the contact springs from eachother and from the supporting plates 1 and 12. Any desirable arrangementof contact springs may be used and T have illustrated for the purpose ofrevealing my invention to others a plurality of sets of superimposedsprings, each set comprising a pair of outside springs having contactpoints and adapted to be connected with the line, and a pair of insidesprings carrying cotiperating contact points and adapted to form aconnection with the line when the individual keys 2, 2, are depressed.The terminals of the contact springs may be staggered as shown in Fig.3, for con venience in connecting the wires therewith, the outer springs15, 15 being preferably set to one side, but this is not essential.

It will be noted that the contact springs 11, 11, and their coiiperatingcontact points are exposed and open to inspection and said contacts maybe readily repaired without the necessity of disassembling or removingany part of the unitary structure comprising my improved key switch. Itwill also be noted that the groove or housing 3 for the auxiliarysprings 10 adapted to return the individual keys to normal position, isalso open on one side and the parts contained therein exposed andaccessible for the purpose of inspection and repair.

The body of the switch consists of a single stamping of sheet metalsuitably formed for mounting the operative portions of the keys andsprings thereon, thus producing an extremely simple, compact andinexpensive device in which the number of parts are re duced to aminimum, the auxiliary springs 10 obviating any tendency of theindividual keys to stick in their depressed position, due to a wearingor flattening of the conical or beveled ends of the insulating tips ofsaid keys.

My improved key switch may be secured to the switchboard in any suitablemanner as by ears or lugs 16, preferably formed integral with the plate1 and having secured thereto in any suitable manner a bracket 17 forsecuring the key switch in position.

I claim:

1. A key switch comprising a supporting plate having a longitudinalgroove formed therein, a plurality of individual keys crossing saidgroove transversely in an exposed position, the lower ends of said keys005perating with a plurality of sets of contact springs to control thecircuit therethrough, said contact springs being disposed upon the sideof said plate with their contacts in an exposed position, substantiallyas described.

2. A key switch comprising a supporting plate having a longitudinalgroove formed therein, a plurality of individual keys crossing saidgroove in an exposed position, the lower ends of said keys cooperatingwith a plurality of sets of contact springs to control the circuittherethrough, said contact springs being disposed upon the side of saidplate opposite from that containing said groove with their contacts inan exposed position, and means independent of said springs associatedwith. each of said keys for returning said keys to normal position,substantially as described.

3. A key switch comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of superposedsprings carried by said plate and insulated therefrom and from eachother, individual keys having insulating tips for actuating saidsprings, contact points for said springs mounted thereon in an exposedposition, and coiled springs disposed upon the shanks of each of saidkeys for restoring said keys to normal position, substantially asdescribed.

4. A key switch comprising a mounting plate formed of a main verticalportion, a horizontal portion attached at one edge to said verticalportion, a second vertical portion attached to the other edge of saidhorizontal portion, and a second horizontal portion attached to theupper edge of the second vertical portion, a plurality of reciprocatingplungers passing through alined holes in said horizontal portions, and aplurality of switch springs carried upon the first vertical portion andadapted to be actuated by the reciprocation of said plungers,substantially as described.

5. A key switch comprising a sheet metal mounting plate, said platehaving a plurality of holes therein, plungers adapted to reciprocate insaid holes, each plunger passing through two holes in the plate, aplurality of sets of switch springs carried by the plate, each set beingadapted to be actuated by the movement of one of said plungers, and acoil spring about said plunger between the points where said plungerpasses through the plate, substantially as 10 described.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, in thepresence of two Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

